Jim Shaw: The Ties That Bind

Saturated with literary allusions, pop culture staples and celebrity caricatures, Shaw's bombastic satirical works are almost "too weird for the art world" (Cultured Magazine)Since the 1970s, Los Angeles-based artist Jim Shaw (born 1952) has been developing an exciting body of work that includes photographs, drawings, paintings, sculptures, installations, films and musical performances. The Ties That Bind addresses the commitments and obsessions that drive Shaw's practice: morality, fictional narratives, conspiracy theories and forms of cultural production, to name a few. Popular cultural formats such as comics, Hollywood films and caricatures constitute an essential part of his work, as do religion, folk beliefs, leisure culture and amateur arts. His profound critical exploration of the construction of values and beliefs is complemented by an incredibly rich visual imagery. In recent decades, his body of work has increasingly highlighted the growing tension between conservative and progressive ideologies. The Ties That Bind brings to light the core motifs of Shaw's practice, presenting his latest work alongside a selection of earlier works.